A retired CIA officer reportedly working with Blackwater founder Erik Prince to pitch the White House on a global, private spy network which as we reported yesterday would allow the White House to circumvent and counter "deep state enemies" within U.S. intelligence agencies, is said to have made the stunning claim that National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster worked with the NSA to perform surveillance on Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, Steve Bannon and others, according to a report in The Intercept.

Former CIA agent John R. Maguire and Blackwater founder Erik Prince

The former CIA agent, John R. Maguire - a Trump transition team member who works for intelligence contractor Amyntor Group, spent over two decades as a paramilitary officer - including tours in Central America working with the Contras. After retiring, Maguire hooked up with Blackwater founder Erik Prince in what has been a long and fruitful professional relationship.

While Maguire and Prince deny they are working together on the White House's "private spy network," current and former U.S. officials as well as Trump donors say otherwise, as The Intercept reports: